Deduct Your Dry Cleaning! The 10 Most Overlooked Tax Deductions

During tax season, if there's one thing that's at the front of our minds more than paying our taxes, it's getting whatever deductions we can to save money. Standard or itemized, it makes no difference — any tax break that keeps cash out of the hands of the IRS is fair game.

And though you might be one of the people who contributed to these statistics, are you certain you've found every single deduction you could possibly make? You'll be surprised at the crazy things you're able to write off. If you haven't yet filed your taxes, take a look at these 10 overlooked deductions you might be able to claim.

The Casualty Deduction

So a sinkhole swallows up your home, a tornado carries your car away, or an earthquake shakes the property inside your house beyond repair. What's a taxpayer to do? If your insurance carrier doesn't cover everything in these unfortunate events, you might be able to take what's called a casualty deduction. This tax break allows you to write off some of the damages to your home, personal items, or vehicles that resulted from an unexpected natural disaster.

Energy-Saving Home Improvements

You may have made energy-efficient improvements around your house to save money on your utility bills, but did you know that these could also help you save on your taxes? The Nonbusiness Energy Property Credit may qualify you for up to $500 in deductions. However, keep in mind that when you fill out this deduction on Form 5695, you'll need to adhere to certain spending limits. Some include $150 for high-efficiency furnaces and boilers; $300 for air conditioners and heat pumps; and $200 for replacement windows, according to Bankrate.com.

Job Search Expenses

If you were looking for a job last year and your total miscellaneous expenses exceeded 2% of your adjusted gross income, you may qualify for a tax break. A few of these job-hunting costs include transportation expenses and cab fares; food and lodging if you're out of town interviewing; employment agency fees; and printing costs for resumes and business cards, according to Kiplinger.

Moving for a First Job

Recent graduates landing their first real job out of college may be eligible to deduct moving expenses if the position is at least 50 miles from home. As per IRS Publication 521, you may be able to get a tax break on the costs of transporting yourself and your property to your new domicile. And if it was a road trip by car, you can deduct 23 cents a mile, along with parking fees and road tolls.

The Dry Cleaning Tax Deduction

If you travel a lot for work, and you wear a lot of dry clean-only business clothes, you may be able to deduct the costs of getting them cleaned, provided they aren't reimbursed by your employer, according to The Fiscal Times. If these threads are for work purposes only, another tax deduction might be available, as long as you can show the IRS proof of your employer's policies and receipts of your purchases. (Think police uniforms, hospital scrubs, protective gear, or theatrical garments.)

Jury Duty Fees Paid to Your Employer

You might be one of those lucky people who gets called in to jury duty, can take off work, and have their job pay them for the time off. In some cases, employers ask that you reimburse them with the jury duty stipend the courts pay you for your civic duty, which is considered taxable income. Fortunately, you can make it a deduction on your tax return.

Gambling Losses

That unlucky night in Vegas last year wasn't a complete loss after all. If you lost a bit of coin gambling, you can deduct your losses, just as long as they aren't more than your winnings, according to U.S. News & World Report. If you lost $6,000 and won $3,000, you can deduct the $3,000 — essentially, you're able to deduct your winnings under the guise of losses. The publication says that to make your claim, you'll need to be able to provide the IRS with the right documentation, such as receipts, tickets, and other records.

Baggage Fees

When you fly these days, you encounter standard baggage fees, overweight luggage penalties, and multiple bag charges. If you're a self-employed professional traveling for business purposes, however, these fees may be tax-deductible. Simply add them on to your existing travel deductions when filing.

Readers, what commonly overlooked tax deductions did we miss? Let us know in the comments below!

Paul Sisolak is a freelance writer who covers a wide range of topics, including personal finance, automotive reviews, travel, news and trends, entertainment, and education. He has written and reported for U.S. News & World Report, Business Insider, Huffington Post, CNN Money, StudentLoanHero.com, and GOBankingRates.com.

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